Improvement in water-faucets



H. H. GRAIGIE.

' Water-Faucet. No. 216,661. Patented June 17, 1879.

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m.mg% mm I $1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFI E;

HUGH H. CBAIGIE, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO JULIA CRAIGIE, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN WATER-FAUCETS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 216,661, dated June 17, 1879; application filed November 8, 1878.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HUGH H. CRAIGIE, of

' Stamford, Fairfield county, Connecticut, have compression-cocks, where the valve-disk,

usually, formed of rubber or other compressible material, is raised or lowered to or from its seat by a reciprocating movement. In this class of faucets the movement of the valvedisk is effected generally either by a crank, as in the Fuller cook, or by a uniformscrew, as in the Hero compression-cock. In both cases a rotatable, or partly rotatable, operating-handle is employed", the shaft of which is in the former case cranked and disposed at right angles to the valve-stem, while in the latter case the shaft is arranged in line with the valve-stem, and is threaded, as'a nut, to engage with similar threads on the valvestem, which latter is prevented from turning by being squared and movingina square hearing in the valve-casing, in which it is free to rise or fall in obedience to the action of the screw, to open or close the valve.

In another instance a cam has been employed of such form which effects the opening of the valve by a partial turn in either direction, or

by pressing down the cam-handle; but its action is positive only in opening the valve, a spring serving to close it, the cams having but a single bearing, and consequently an action vertically in but one direction.

This construction forms the main feature of my invention, which also embodies minor features, as hereinafter fully set forth.

Figurel in the annexed drawings presents a vertical section of a basin-cock constructed according to my invention, the valve-disk being shown raised to a medium position or approachin g the point of closure. Figs. 2 and 3 are minor figures, which will be hereinafter explained.

The body or casing of the valve is, for convenience of construction, preferably made in two parts-that is, a base-piece, a, which rests upon the base, to which the cock is fixed,

and terminates in a threaded shank, as shown, which connects with the water-pipes, and an upper part or body, I), which carries the operating parts of the valves, and also the discharge-spout c, which projects therefrom.

The lower extremity of the body I) terminates in a threaded neck, which screws into the basepiece a, as represented. and the aperture of this neck is ground to form a conical valveseat, d, as shown, while the top of the body I) is closed by a screw-cap, 6', provided with the usual gland, through which the rotating shaft f of "theoperatin g-handle 9 passes. This shaft connects with or is or formed with a double or return screw-cam, A, of opposite inclinations, which may be said to be formed, as shown, by a segment of a right and left screw-thread, which are arranged parallel and on the same plane, encircling the axis or cylinder m, from which they project, and blending together where they meet, thus forming a continuous or uninterrupted return-cam, as seen in Fig. 1. This cam works between inclined bearings B B fixed to the side of the casing above and below the cam A, as shown,.each of which is also formed with a corresponding double or I right-and-left incline.

It will now be observed that when the cam is turned to the right or left by the operatinghandle the valve is raised or lowered, the movement being positive in opening or closing the valve, and being effected in whichever direction the handle is turned, and by means of but a partial rotation thereof.

The operation of the valve is thus rendered very effective and simple, and much more rapid and convenient than is the ease with the usual screw movement, which requires a number of turns in the same uniform direction.

The cam A is preferably formed on a short cylindrical section, m, which forms the connection between the valve-stem and the shaft f of the handle; and the bearings B B of the cam-are preferably formed by bevel-rings, which are socketed in the val ve-casing, as shown, above and below the cam A. The axis m of the cam turns in the central aperture of the rings, which form the bearing thereof at top and bottom, and the cam A works between the corresponding cam-surfaces of the rings,

which face each other, as seen in Fig. 1. The lower ring, B, rests 011 a shoulder at the center of the valve-easing I), and the upper ring, which has a narrow projecting rim, rests on a shoulder at the mouth of the casing, under the screw-cap 0, while both rings are provided with shortlugs n n, which engage with grooves 0 on the valve-casing, and this holds the rings fixed therein, while the cam A is free to turn between them, and is thus raised or depressed by its rotation thereon. These lugs and grooves are better shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the former of which shows a plan view of the mouth of the casing b with the upper ring, B,

- removed, While the latter is an inverted plan view of the removed ring.

The shaftfof the handle is formed with a projecting disk or shoulder, h, which lies in a cavity between the screw-cap and the upper ring, B, and this holds it in proper vertical position, while the shaft terminates below the disk in a square key, 12, which engages with a square bore, 1, Fig. 2, in the axis m of the cam, thus forming a turning connection between the handle and cam.

The valve-diskt is preferably formed of compressible rubber, as usual, being held on the Valve-stem between two metal disks or shoulders, 7c 1, the latter of which forms a plug or cut-off, which enters the aperture of the valveseat previous to the seating of the valve, and checks the flow of water. This plug is formed with a notch or groove, 0, running nearly the full length of the plug, as shown. This groove affords, as will be seen, a slight vent or escape to the moving column of water during the closing movement of the valve and before the full seating of the valve-disk occurs, and thus obviates the complete and sudden check of the flowing column, which is the cause of the severe hammering common to this class of valve asusually formed, but which I thus effectually prevent by means of this reliefgroove 0.

The valve-stem is formed by a long pin or slender bolt, 8, which is hung from the axis m of the operating-cam, its head resting on the bottom of the square cavity 4 therein, Fig. 2,

while the round shank of the stem extends through a circular hole in the bottom of the cavity, in which it is free to turn, as seen in Figs. 2 and 1.

The valve-disk t and plug 1 are slipped on the lower end of the stem, which is threaded, and are held in place by the adjusting-nut it, while a sleeve, u, slipped on the upper part of the stem, between the cam A m and the valvedisk and plug, t 1, holds the parts in proper relative position, and prevents them rising out of place.

The turning of the nut at the end of the valve-stem tightens the parts together and compresses the rubber diski more or less, thus increasing or decreasing the practical length of the valve-stem, and thereby serving to adjust the force or degree of tightness with which the disk is drawn to its seat by the action of"- tion of the cam draws the valve to its seat,

the cam at its final or tightening movement can freely turn on the stem without turning; the valve-disk on its seat, which would be in jurious; and this freely-turning and double shouldered connection between the parts forms another feature of my invention, which is of importance in this class of valves.

It will be readily understood that the detailed construction of the operating double cam and its necessary connections may be varied without departing from the principle of the inventionthat is, the cam A m may be formed solidly on the shaft f of the handle, instead of being a separate part; and the camsurtace may be formed in this shaft by a depressed groove instead of a raisedrib, as shown, with which groove a fixed pin pro-, jecting from the casing D may engage with similar effect 5 or this modification may be reversed, the pin being on the rotary shaft f and the continuous or, double cam-groove on the interior of the casing. I however prefer the construction described, as it is better adapted to existing modes of manufacture, and is strong and durable.

I have shown my invention applied to a basin-cock; but it is, of course, as applicable 'to bib and other cocks, by simple changes of form, proportion, and arrangement, without departing in any manner from the essential features of the invention.

In cocks used for'hot water, where an incompressible valvedisk is used, the valvestem is preferably fitted with a strong upwardly acting spring, to constantly tend to force the disk to its seat.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. The combination, in a water-cock, of a reciprocating valve and a rotating operating- .handle, with a double or return screw-cam,

formed with uninterrupted rightaud left inclines, and provided with a positive bearing above and below the inclines, by which a pan tial rotation of the handle in either direction eifeets, through the medium of the said cam. and its upper and lower cam-bearings, the closing or opening of the valve with a positive move ment in both directions, substantially as herein set forth.

7 v2. In a water-cock constructed with a re eiprocating valve-disk and a rotating actuating-cam or cam-handle, the valvestem connected with the actuating-cam by means of a freely-turning shank provided with a shoul der above and below its connection with the cam,'whereby a positive up or down movement may be imparted to the valve without stationary cam-rings B B, arranged and opturning the valve on its seat at the opening erating' substantially as and for the purpose orthe closing movement of the cam, snbstanset forth. tially as herein shown and described. HUGH H. GRAIGIE.

3. The combination, in a water-faucet, of a Witnesses: reciprocating valve and rotating operating- EDWARD H. WALES, handle of the rotating cam-cylinder A m and CHAS. M. HIGGINS. 

